If you've been around long enough to remember Don Bluth's 1983 arcade version of Dragon's Lair, then you'll discover much to enjoy in Dragon's Lair 3-D. You'll still find all of the elements of the arcade game that encouraged eager teens to part with a whopping fifty cents for what might very well have been little more than two minutes of gameplay. There's our goofy, bumbling knight, Dirk the Daring; the object of his affection, Daphne, who's been kidnapped by the evil wizard, Mordroc; and of course Singe, the resident dragon. Whether or not you played the original, you'll still enjoy the unique graphics of Dragon's Lair 3-D. Playing the game, which appears to have been hand drawn in many places, is akin to controlling a cartoon. The bright primary colors and detailed 3-D backgrounds combine to make Dirk's adventures particularly engaging. Throughout Mordroc's castle you'll encounter everything from a miniature solar system floating near the ceiling of one room, to castle walls that slide, shift, and bounce; furniture and books that attack you; stairwells that disappear under your feet; and a deadly green gas that seeps into rooms whose exits suddenly disappear behind bricks that stack up right before your eyes. Beating these foes and traps can be immensely satisfying, especially in a world that looks this good. Fortunately Dragon's Lair 3-D parts company with the arcade version in significant ways. The arcade version was one of the most ruthlessly choreographed games ever: you didn't play it so much as move the joystick and then watch the screen. Not so with Dragon's Lair 3-D, where even after defeating a foe or disabling a trap there is a chance to discover a hidden treasure or magic potion somewhere in the room. What's more, while Dirk's primary weapon is still his sword, he can do a few more things with it in Dragon's Lair 3-D, and later levels let him use a crossbow that's good for both long range attacks and gaining access to various castle locations. But as with the original, there is little to no replay value with Dragon's Lair 3-D. Once you've jumped and fought your way through Mordroc's library, there isn't much to enjoy in doing it again. That said, doing it once is more than worthwhile. --Bill Hummel Pros: Captures the classic fun of the original arcade game Beautiful colors and animations accentuate Dirk's adventures Challenging and rewarding gameplay Con: Little replay value